Here is a picture of typical network with FREESCO as Modem-to-Ethernet router:

Let's pass step by step through setup for this type of router.

711 Hostname of this computer [router]? Press <Enter>

Give a name to your router, default is router

712 Domain name [inet]? Press <Enter>

Give a name to your whole local network (domain), default - inet

How many ethernet cards do you have [1-3]? 3

Let's say for example you have 1 cards and 1 local network respectively.

811 I/O port address of 1st ethernet card [0x300]?

Enter hexadecimal address here. Some ethernet cards are plug-n-play and their Linux drivers don't require this address and you can leave it default. Do not use 300, or 300h here when the card is at address 0×300, the correct syntax is 0x followed by the IO address in hexadecimal. Leave the IO address at 0 for PCI interface cards.

812 IRQ line of 1st ethernet card [11]?

Some drivers require this parameter, some don't.

720 Use DHCP client for configuring 1st network interface y/n [n]? n

If you have Analog modem or ISDN modem answer “n ” here. This feature is for Ethernet-to-Ethernet or Cable Modem-to-Ethernet router.

721 IP address of 1st network interface [10.0.0.1]? Press <Enter>

If you already assigned IP addresses in your network choose one which belongs to your network. If you build your network from a scratch default answer will be a good choice.

Then FREESCO will try to detect your modem(s)1) and will show the result. Rarely auto detect procedure fails, try to set up your modem(s) manually in “Advanced settings” menu, usually it happens when you start setup program from normally booted system. Modem auto detecting procedure works proper only when you boot system in setup mode.

This option defines how long dialing daemon will keep link up after last packet passed. If you going to use filter.cfg which describes how to bring up link and how long to keep link up for different types of packets please read diald manual at its home page - http://www.loonie.net/~eschenk/diald.html. If you set this parameter to any value differ from 0 or 1 it means diald will bring up a link for any packet and will keep link up N seconds after last packet. Value 1 is good when you have absolutely unlimited connection.

Usually yes, otherwise answer “n” and enter IP addresses of local and remote sides of ppp link.

341 Authentification method - pap/chap/script []? script

If your ISP starts ppp daemon on his side right after connection it means it uses pap or chap method and you must provide login name and password. If after connection with ISP you must login before pppd starts it means you must use script method. For this method you must describe chat sequence.
Let's for example describe chat sequence with my provider. After connection my ISP output login prompt:

Username:

and waits my login name, then it output another prompt:

Password:

and waits my password, then it output third prompt:

emirates-xyz>

and waits until I type ppp followed by <Enter>, and only after all this ppp daemon starts on ISP side.
So chat sequence will be - wait for “name:” and enter my login name, then wait for “word:” and enter my password, then wait for ”>” (xyz - usually varies, it depends on which router I've connected to) and enter ppp, then start ppp daemon on my side. There are four pairs “Wait For” and “Reply With”, if it's more then you need leave last pair(s) blank.

Warning!!! At this step internet passwords will be saved without prompt.

You may need to use some control symbols in chat sequence, use these back slashed symbols:

\c - suppresses the new line at the end of the reply string.
This is the only method to send a string without a trailing return character.
It must be at the end of the send string.
\b - represents a backspace character.
\d - delay for one second (not valid in expect).
\K - insert a BREAK (not valid in expect).
\n - send a new line or linefeed character.
\r - send or expect a carriage return.
\N - send a null character.
\t - send or expect a tab character.
\\ - send or expect a backslash character.
\ddd - collapse the octal digits into a single ASCII (some characters are not valid in expect).
^C - send control character represented by C (some characters are not valid in expect).

That's all. You will be again in main menu, now you can save your new config file reboot system and router is ready.
This setup is very similar to Ballantains 2) setup and if you set up your router as it was just described you will get a full replacement of Ballantain router + DNS server + Print server + Time&Control server.